Best back-up cameras for your car

Yada Digital may not be a household name (yet), but it has a wide range of backup cams that are affordable and simple. The kit with a 4.3-inch monitor is a favorite for many as it’s easy to install and turns on automatically when you shift into reverse. There’s no wire between the camera and monitor, which instead relies on a 2.4G digital wireless signal, meaning less interference. The camera attaches next to your rear license plate and offers a 110-degree view of what’s going on behind you, which is enough to park safely. It’s got LEDs so you can see what you’re doing in the dark and is waterproof, as you might expect.

If you just want to give a backup camera a go, the LeeKooLuu Backup Camera and Monitor Kit is a steal. The camera connects to your car’s reverse lights and comes to life when your vehicle is in reverse gear. Alternatively, it can be powered via a 12v source fuse box or cigarette lighter for continuous use. Some reviewers have described fitting the system, where the camera and monitor are connected by a wire, as time-consuming and tedious, but praised the results in the end. The camera is designed to give a decent view of what’s behind you, with a 150-degree viewing angle, even in the pouring rain and at night. A 720p image will be displayed on the 4.3-inch monitor, which can be attached to your dashboard (but not the windshield depending on which state or country you’re driving in). It’s not the easiest to install, or the clearest, but if does offer a lot of bang for its buck.

You can’t buy much at this price, but eRapta’s ERT01 backup camera isn’t bad. The camera has a 149-degree viewing angle, which the company claims is ideal, plus a waterproof ring to keep water out when it’s positioned on the back of your car. Unlike pricier options, this camera has wires and needs to be carefully installed. It also doesn’t come with a monitor, but is instead designed to work with an in-car screen, so if you’re looking for a self-contained budget kit, this might not be the choice for you. Feature wise, this camera is rather basic, but does have LED lights so it can be used in the dark.

If you already have a Garmin, the BC 40 backup cam from the well-known company may be for you. The device is designed to work with a satellite navigation system, so unlike most other offerings, it doesn’t come with a screen or as part of a kit. But the sleek camera bar works without any wiring, making for a far simpler setup than other options. The camera just needs to be mounted on the rear of the vehicle with two AA batteries and it'll use the Garmin you already have to display what it sees. It's honestly so easy to set up, that it might even be worth getting the Garmin just to be able to use this. Features-wise, the backup cam has a viewing angle of 150 degrees, is rugged and waterproof to withstand the worst of road conditions, and can be controlled using voice commands. For example, users can simply say “show video” to see the rear view from the vehicle. 

The ToGuard seven-inch Backup Camera is more than a simple rear view camera, acting more like a dash cam. It has simultaneous recording in 1080p for the front camera and 480p for the rear, which can be used as a backup cam in conjunction with the 7-inch touch screen monitor that’s designed to hang from the rear view mirror. As well as helping you park, this device could prove handy in the event of an accident and can help monitor your car when it’s parked too. The rear cam is waterproof, has night vision, and will automatically switch on when you’re in gear. It looks pretty sleek but does require some nifty installation skills, as there are two wires to hide in your car. But if you’re willing to spend a bit of time and patience installing this device, it offers incredible value for the price.

Auto-Vox’s T1400 backup camera is designed to hook onto the rear view mirror of most cars, trucks, and mini vans, making it a neater option than a dashboard monitor. The 4.3-inch display automatically adjusts brightness to avoid dazzling and glaring and connects wirelessly to the camera unit, which has a 170-degree viewing angle. The camera is equipped with six LED lights and a CMOS and digital image processor so users can see a detailed view of what’s behind their car at night. 

The Auto-Vox X1 Mirror Dash Cam is a great choice if size matters to you. The device, which is a dash cam that can also be used as a backup cam, has a large 9.88-inch touch screen, or media mirror as it’s called. Like many options, this one isn’t wireless and requires some careful installation. The rear camera switches on automatically when you shift into reverse gear and the rear view angle is lowered to show you a closer backup image while parking. With a 140-degree viewing angle you can see what’s behind you easily and it eliminates most of the blind spots without distorting what you see in real time on the screen. There’s loop recording, a parking monitor feature, and a GPS tracking system as you might expect with a good quality dash cam, making this a feature-packed solution for your car.